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First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Mikhnevich | Courtesy of the Republic of Belarus

Alexander Mikhnevich, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Belarus, spoke during the 79th session of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' (OPCW) executive council July 8 in The Hague, the Netherlands, on the need for eliminating such weapons.

Mikhnevich discussed the importance of the work of the OPCW with the international community and said the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is a key element to global security measures. He noted the need for CWC member states to cooperate with each other and with the OPCW in an effort to meet the complex global challenges relating to weapons of this kind.

During his speech, the deputy minister commended the progress that has been made in the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons and their commitment to eliminating all chemical armament stocks.

Belarusian News said Mikhnevich aims to meet with OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu while he is in the Netherlands. The current session of the OPCW executive council meets until July 10.

The CWC is an international agreement that prohibits the use, development and stockpiling of chemical-based weapons. The OPCW is the governing body behind the convention and hosts educational sessions for state parties in numerous areas including analytical chemistry, medical assistance and implementation practices. It also takes part in fact-finding missions for cases of alleged chemical weapons violations.